Government and Policy

The First UK-funded Anti-Terrorism Police Unit Opened In Kenya

BY Jane Muia · July 26, 2022 11:07 am

Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i and the British High Commissioner Jane Marriott on Monday opened the first Anti-terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) in the Coast Regional Headquarters and Mombasa Police station.

“As a Government, we applaud the UK-Kenya Security Compact agreed in 2018 and the incorporation of the UK Kenya Strategic Partnership 2020 – 2025, through which the British High Commission has worked with the Government of Kenya to establish this modern, purpose-built police station with detention facilities for ATPU Coast in Mombasa,’’ Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Mtiang’i said.

The facility which is worth 81 million shillings will provide a convenient environment for the ATPU to work on terrorism cases, as well promoting a relationship between ATPU and the locals. It will also serve as a base for allowing direct access to the ATPU for the public, creating more awareness about the ATPU’s work.

Cabinet secretary for interior Fred Matiang’i lauded the move noting the country’s growing efforts in confronting terrorism and other transnational crimes.

The building has been designed in compliance with the Human Rights requirements and meets International standards such as the Mandela Rules. It includes a secure detention facility with separate cells and private ablution amenities for men, women, and children.

“The building has a state-of-the-art room including, storage areas, a conference room, an IT room, a server area, an armory, a CCTV room, and 9 holding cells for males, females, and juveniles all fitted with fixed beds, a modern toilet, and adequate ventilation,’’ the CS added.

According to The British High Commissioner to Kenya, Jane Marriott, Kenya is the UK’s premier security partner in East Africa. She termed terrorism as a threat to countries, hence the need to curb it.

“A primary focus of this partnership is to strengthen counter-terrorism capacity within the criminal justice system, in line with international human rights standards. The UK works with stakeholders across the criminal justice pathway, including investigators, detention supervisors, prosecutors, and judiciary, all of whom are key to preventing and disrupting terrorist activity,’’ she said.

Kenya is one of the countries that have for years been affected by terrorism. The main terrorism threat is from the Al Shabaab, a militant group in Somalia opposed to the Somali government. For instance, in January 2020 Al Shabaab conducted an attack on a military airstrip in Lamu County, killing several people.

In January 2019, the DusitD2 complex attack by the Al Shabaab group left 22 civilians dead. Another attack was witnessed On 2 April 2015 at the Garissa University College, which killed at least 148 people. Other attacks include the 2013 Westgate Mall attack and the July 2014 attacks in Lamu and Tana River Counties, with the methods of attack being grenades, shootings, and bombings.

According to the Research Department February 2022 report, terrorist-related fatalities worldwide in 2020 were 29,389.

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